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BMC Cancer
Published in: BMC Cancer 1/2010

Open Access 01-12-2010 | Research article

Chloroquine potentiates the anti-cancer effect of 5-fluorouracil on colon cancer cells

Authors: Kazuhito Sasaki, Nelson H Tsuno, Eiji Sunami, Giichiro Tsurita, Kazushige Kawai, Yurai Okaji, Takeshi Nishikawa, Yasutaka Shuno, Kumiko Hongo, Masaya Hiyoshi, Manabu Kaneko, Joji Kitayama, Koki Takahashi, Hirokazu Nagawa

Published in: BMC Cancer | Issue 1/2010

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Abstract

Background

Chloroquine (CQ), the worldwide used anti-malarial drug, has recently being focused as a potential anti-cancer agent as well as a chemosensitizer when used in combination with anti-cancer drugs. It has been shown to inhibit cell growth and/or to induce cell death in various types of cancer. 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is the chemotherapeutic agent of first choice in colorectal cancer, but in most cases, resistance to 5-FU develops through various mechanisms. Here, we focused on the combination of CQ as a mechanism to potentiate the inhibitory effect of 5-FU on human colon cancer cells.

Methods

HT-29 cells were treated with CQ and/or 5-FU, and their proliferative ability, apoptosis and autophagy induction effects, and the affection of the cell cycle were evaluated. The proliferative ability of HT-29 was analyzed by the MTS assay. Apoptosis was quantified by flow-cytometry after double-staining of the cells with AnnexinV/PI. The cell cycle was evaluated by flow-cytometry after staining of cells with PI. Autophagy was quantified by flow-cytometry and Western blot analysis. Finally, to evaluate the fate of the cells treated with CQ and/or 5-FU, the colony formation assay was performed.

Results

5-FU inhibited the proliferative activity of HT-29 cells, which was mostly dependent on the arrest of the cells to the G0/G1-phase but also partially on apoptosis induction, and the effect was potentiated by CQ pre-treatment. The potentiation of the inhibitory effect of 5-FU by CQ was dependent on the increase of p21Cip1 and p27Kip1 and the decrease of CDK2. Since CQ is reported to inhibit autophagy, the catabolic process necessary for cell survival under conditions of cell starvation or stress, which is induced by cancer cells as a protective mechanism against chemotherapeutic agents, we also analyzed the induction of autophagy in HT-29. HT-29 induced autophagy in response to 5-FU, and CQ inhibited this induction, a possible mechanism of the potentiation of the anti-cancer effect of 5-FU.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that the combination therapy with CQ should be a novel therapeutic modality to improve efficacy of 5-FU-based chemotherapy, possibly by inhibiting autophagy-dependent resistance to chemotherapy.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Chloroquine potentiates the anti-cancer effect of 5-fluorouracil on colon cancer cells
Authors
Kazuhito Sasaki
Nelson H Tsuno
Eiji Sunami
Giichiro Tsurita
Kazushige Kawai
Yurai Okaji
Takeshi Nishikawa
Yasutaka Shuno
Kumiko Hongo
Masaya Hiyoshi
Manabu Kaneko
Joji Kitayama
Koki Takahashi
Hirokazu Nagawa
Publication date
01-12-2010
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Cancer / Issue 1/2010
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2407
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2407-10-370

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